Amla and Kallis set up SA

Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis combined for a century-stand to propel South Africa to 255 for two at stumps on the first day of the first test against Australia at the Brisbane Cricket Ground on Friday.

Amla was unbeaten on 90 off 207 balls while Kallis was on 84 not out off 135 deliveries with eight fours and a six as the pair put on an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 136 off 43.2 overs.

The right-handed Amla reached the landmark of 5 000 test runs during his innings, the second fastest South African to the mark after Herschelle Gibbs, while he brought up his 23rd test fifty off 108 balls.

He had struck six fours and a six by the time play was called off with eight overs unbowled because of bad light.

Kallis was the more aggressive of the pair as he raced to his 56th test half-century off just 63 balls but both batsmen enjoyed a life during their knocks with paceman Peter Siddle the unfortunate bowler on both occasions.

Kallis was caught off a no-ball with his score on 43 while Siddle put down a caught and bowled effort when Amla was on 74.

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Amla also shared in a 90-run second-wicket partnership with Alviro Petersen with opening bat Petersen looking in fine form as he brought up his fifty off 99 balls.

But Petersen, who had looked untroubled throughout his innings, was dismissed in a slightly soft fashion when he mis-timed a lofted on-drive and was caught at mid-on off the bowling of off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

South Africa had won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch which offered a touch of seam movement but very little swing while the tourists also left out leg-spinner Imran Tahir and opted to hand a test debut to 29-year-old seamer Rory Kleinveldt.

Graeme Smith (10) and Petersen did well to blunt Australia’s new-ball attack but paceman James Pattinson struck with the first ball of his second spell when he trapped Smith leg-before with a full delivery that struck Smith on his back leg.

However, Australia had to review the decision after on-field umpire Billy Bowden had initially given Smith not out but replays showed that the ball would have struck middle and off stump.

The Australia attack did not look particularly threatening on a pitch which became easier and easier to bat on as the day wore on as Pattinson finished with 1-53 and Lyon captured 1-61.